Mai Bonsai Blog

A shohin sized Sabina Juniper.

I got this tree just over 2 years ago now, so it has been 3 or 4 years plus since collection. It has put on lots of growth, and is healthy. In 2015, the only work done was with Harry Harrington to the deadwood and live veins. None of the foliage was touched at all. Last summer (2016), one large branch was removed. It was later styled with Taiga Urushibata at the Spirit of Shohin exhibition workshop at Wisley, U.K.

Generally a Juniper should be re-potted before styling, in case a root is damaged which kills a branch essential to the design, or a large root is discovered which stops you getting the tree into the pot required for your design. In this case, the opportunity to work with Taiga couldn't be missed.

As purchased - Feb 2015. The tree was collected at least a year prior.

2016 - post styling

March 2017 - The first job was to see where the roots are. The core was all original soil, which had to be removed.

After bare-rooting and rinsing the roots.

Most root is off one primary root. This will be remedied in the future.

In a year or two, once the tree has put out more roots, this long root will start to be reduced. This action will encourage more rooting from the underside of three, and in time (perhaps 4 or 5 years), this large root will be eliminated all together.

Potted in a soft rectangle by Gyouzan; Yukizyou Nakano.

​Good after care is vital after re-potting. Not only should a vulnerable tree be protected from frost and strong sun, but also importantly from wind. Wind causes evapo-transpiration from the leaves, depleting the tree of water, which puts a strain on the recently disturbed, or cut roots.

This tree will now be left to grow till June/July. Then gentle pruning will resume to create denser foliage pads. The foliage will also be rotated more to the left, to reveal the live vein. The trunk will be re-cleaned, and the deadwood re-whitened to create contrast. The pot will also be cleaned and oiled by July! Next year will be another full wiring and styling, and the tree should be show ready by 2019.